South Alabama adds two more victories to its record Friday in Gulf Coast Softball Classic (photos)

South Alabama softball stretched its win streak to eight games Friday with a pair of wins in the Gulf Coast Softball Classic in Gulfport, Miss. The Jaguars, now 13-1 in the season, topped Ohio University 3-0 in their first game of the day and followed that with a 2-1 win over Nicholls State.

The Jags' ace pitchers, Farish Beard and Hannah Campbell, set the stage in both wins, preventing the opposing team from mounting any offense. At the plate, the Jags received timely hitting and scoring.

In the win over Ohio, Beard was stellar once again. She pitched seven innings, allowing one hit and one walk and striking out 12 batters. South Alabama scored all three of its runs in the second inning.

Freshman Chloe Rathburn hit a one-out, solo home run over the left field fence. Alex Breeden drew a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch while an out later, Taylor Rodgers walked. Emily Messer's hit to right field was bobbled, allowing Breeden and Rodgers to score for a 3-0 lead. Breeden had the Jags' only other hit.

Savannah Jo Dorsey pitched six innings for Ohio, allowing three runs and just two hits while striking out six and walking six.

Against Nicholls State, a team the Jags were scheduled to play on the road Wednesday but did not because of rain, Campbell pitched seven innings, allowing one hit and one run, walking none and striking out nine.

Stephanie Pilkington led off the first with a triple and scored later on a Rathburn fielder's choice. Nicholls State scored int he bottom half of the inning to tie the game at 1-all. In the fourth, Pilkington singled, stole second and scored on an Amanda Minahan double.

South Alabama stranded 11 runners on base, while Nicholls State left on two runners on base.

Hannah Haydel was the losing pitcher, throwing seven innings, allowing eight hits, two runs and five walks while striking out five.

Pilkington was 2 for 4, while Minahan was 2 for 3 and Rathburn was 2 for 3.

Saturday, the Jags have two more games scheduled. The first is set for 2 p.m. against Texas-San Antonio, with the second a much-anticipated matchup between the No. 14/16 Jaguars and No. 12-ranked Baylor. That game is set to begin at 8 p.m.